Revision for Accounting Standards - CA Intermediate (Part 1)

AS 1: Disclosure of Accounting Policies

(Issued in November 1979, Came into existence from accounting periods commencing on or after April 1 ,1991.)

Purpose of Disclosure of Accounting Policies

1. To Promote Better Understanding of Financial Statement, by disclosing significant accounting policies in an orderly manner.
2. To facilitate meaningful comparison between financial statements of different enterprises for the same accounting period.
3. Disclosure of changes in Accounting Policies which helps the users to compare the same enterprise’s financial statements for different accounting periods.

What are Fundamental Accounting Assumptions?

What are Accounting Policies?

Accounting Policies refer to rules and methods to adopt such principles in financial accounts for a true and fair presentation.

For example: FIFO or weighted Average method is used for valuation of Inventory. SLM or WDV method is used for depreciation.

Factors to be considered while selecting an Accounting Policy

1. Prudence: A loss is to be recognized in the view of uncertainty of events. Profits are to be recorded only when it is realized.
2. Substance over form: Transactions should be recorded with financial reality not merely their legal form.
3. Materiality: Financial Statements should disclose all the material items/ facts which influence the decisions of the shareholders.

Change in Accounting policy

When can an entity Change Accounting Policy?

Entity can change the accounting Policies if the following Conditions are satisfied.

1. Adoption of different accounting policies is required by law/ statute.
2. In Compliance with other Accounting Standards
3. Change in Accounting Policy will result in more appropriate presentation of Financial Statements.

Effects of Change in Accounting Policy